Caregivers Push for Minimum Wage Increase

ANNAPOLIS, Md. — People who provide care for the disabled are coming to Annapolis to push for an increase in direct care rates, if Maryland increases the state’s minimum wage.

Advocates are planning on Wednesday to urge lawmakers to boost the wages of people who provide direct care to the disabled, along with any minimum wage increase.

The Senate Finance Committee is holding a hearing on a minimum wage hike that already has passed the House of Delegates. It would phase in a minimum wage increase from $7.25 an hour to $10.10 by 2017.

Now, the state pays $9.82 an hour in the rate to community providers for direct support wages. Advocates say raising the minimum wage without increasing the hourly reimbursement rate would leave those employees making minimum wage.